My name is Jessica montanez

Born and raised in CT, I developed a love for photography early in my teen years. However, it wasn't until my daughter was born that I really began to understand the value of capturing those fleeting moments.

One of the biggest defining moments for me was the realization that I was almost completely absent from any photos with my daughter. I believe that I have about 5 or 6 photos with her between the ages of 2 months and 2 years. Even then, the photos that I do have with her are almost entirely selfies. I was a stay at home mom and spent every minute of every day with her but you would never know it looking at photographs from that time. Truth - I was too self conscious and shied away from anyone with a camera. I with I could go back and make it a priority. I wish I would have asked those around me to capture those times with the 2 of us. I wish I had photos of how I used to curl up in her bed every night and read to her. Or how we used to snuggle up on the couch to watch the same movie 100 times. Or how we would do arts and crafts together. I wish those memories, those fleeting moments, had been captured for us to look back on.

It is something that I will regret for the rest of my life.

My goal is simple: to capture the moments and memories that happen every day and not just on special occasions and holidays. I want to give your family images to hold, to reflect on, to laugh at, and to cherish.

I want to encourage you to join your family in those images, no matter how busy, self conscious, or tired you are. Because you were there too. Because it's important. Because every moment matters.

All images copyright j. joy photography 2017 and may not be used without written permission